Great Lent

The General Canons of Fasting

by Rev. Fr. Dr. Chirathilattu Biji Markose

Bar Ebroyo depends upon the decision of the Synod of Laodicea and from him oft
quoted Patriarch Timotheos [1] and Patriarch John III of Antioch to describe the
"dos and don'ts" in the great lent. The synod of Laodicea admonishes [2] that
one should fast on the whole fasting time eating only the less nutritious (dry)
food.

In the 40 days lent (Great Lent), it is not right to say the Holy Mass except on
Sundays and Saturdays. It is not correct to conduct wedding feasts and birthday
parties during the forty days lent. But the remembrance of the martyrs may be
done.

Patriarch John [3] says that it is not allowed that the commemorations of the
deceased or funeral repasts take place in the great lent except on Sundays or on
Saturdays. In one of his directives, [4] Bar Ebroyo says that, not only meat,
egg, milk and cheese, but fish and wine are also prohibited for the believers
during the big lent. But Patriarch Timotheos [5] gives the exemption that if a
woman delivers in the Passion Week; she is allowed to drink wine, if she wishes
it. Likewise, Patriarch Cyriacus [6] exempts all the sick people, the people
under constraint, the pregnant and nursing women and all under the age of twenty
from fasts.

In the normal days of the great lent a Christian should not break the fast
before the ninth hour. On Saturday and Sunday and in the other lent times it is
ended at noon. [7]

References:

[1] It is not yet clearly identified who this Patriarch Timotheos is, though
Voebus identifies him as the Timotheos of Alexandria.

Source: Chirathilattu Biji Markose: "Prayers and Fasts according to Bar Ebroyo,
A Study On the Prayers and Fasts of the Oriental Churches", Lit Publischers,
Muenster, 2004

See Also:

Fasting Enlightens the Soul
Fasting helps to have serenity of the soul because the one, who hungers in his
stomach, enlightens his intellect. Therefore, the hunger is a key, which opens
the door of wisdom.

The Number and Days of
Fasts
There are a number of fasts in the Syrian Orthodox Church and often
many questions are asked from the part of the believers as to the
dos and don'ts in the fasts, the beginning, duration, and ending of
the fasts etc.

Great Lent in Syriac
Orthodox Church of Antioch
During the period of the Great Lent and other periods of fasting
throughout the year, an individual makes a special attempt or
connection to reach our God, and evaluate his calling as a
Christian, to listen to the voice of the Gospels and heed its
commandments.